Ice-making machine



Oct. 27, 1953 J. R. BAYSTON ,6 6,6

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.Jar/v min raw/s4 J. R. BAYSTON ICE-MAKING MACHINE Qct. 27, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1951 Oct. 27, 1953 J. R. BAYSTON ICE-MAKINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 4, 1951 INVEN T012. fo/r/v76.31923700/ Oct. 27, 1953 J. R. BAYSTON ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug.4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Jamv R 3/7): ro/v.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 ICE-MAKING MACHINE John R. Bayston, Van Nuys,Calif., assignor to John R. Bayston, as trustee, Icecrafter(Liquidating) Trust, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application August 4, 1951, Serial No. 240,394

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice making machine for manufacturing anddelivering ice cubes automatically wherein a number of individual icecubes are simultaneously frozen and thereupon automatically releasedfrom the freezing cells for discharge into an ice receptacle or bin asgenerally disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 2,542,892, granted February20, 1951, entitled Machine for Making Ice.

It is the object of this invention to provide a structure and mechanismapplicable to a machine of this general type wherein the ice is causedto be formed in a series of open bottom cells subjected to alternatefreezing and thawing or defrosting cycles through the discharge of astream of the liquid sprayed upwardly into the cells for building up andforming ice cubes therein While the unfrozen portion of the liquidfreely flows therefrom. Whereas this principle of ice forming, as moreparticularly shown in Figs. 7 and 10 of said Letters Patent, isemployed, the invention herein contemplates the use of no movable parts,such as a platen or closure mem her for the cells.

Herein there is provided a stationary water shed type of structurepositioned immediately below the group of open bottom cells in theevaporator, associated with a reservoir containing the liquid to befrozen, and a pressure pump such as to discharge streams of hot liquidupwardly therefrom into each of the individual cells; diverting theunfrozen liquid back into the reser voir, and the formed ice cubes intoa suitable receptacle.

Other features of the invention will be more particularly set forth anddescribed in the following specifications and claims.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the ice forming machine and cabinet withportions thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with portions broken away.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the evaporator and cellsillustrative of the liquid distribution and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the ice making unit with portions thereofshown in section and broken away.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of theelectrlc control.

In the drawings there is shown a cabinet housing the ice machine and icecube receptacle or bin including a frame structure [0 embracing a lowersection I I an intermediate section housing the ice cube receivingcompartment 12 provided with a removable door l3; and an upper sectionproviding a compartment l4 housing the ice making unit for producing anddischarging into the ice receptacle I2 the ice cubes 15.

The ice making unit housed in the upper compartment l4 includes anenclosed casing I8. Within the casing, as shown in Fig. 3, there issuspended from an evaporator cover I! an evaporator or ice cell unit l8.Said unit includes a series of ice cube forming cells I9 open at thebottom and closed at the top. The evaporator is suspended from the toppanel by the bolts 20 having spacers 2|. Said cells are formed with thelower portion of the cell walls extending parallel to one another, asindicated at 22, thus preventing a refrigerant, such as Freon fromcontacting the cell walls near the bottom. This minimizes the icedeposit below the walls of the cells with the resultant fin of icebetween the adjoining cubes. It will be further noted that the wallsforming the cells taper inwardly from their lower parallel adjoiningportions 22, and upwardly in spaced separated relation to providerefrigerant channels 23 therebetween. Such upwardly and inwardlytapering of the walls also more readily permits the formed ice cubes todrop by gravity from their respective cells during the defrosting cycle.The respective cells I9 are se cured together within the evaporatorcover plate having a skirt portion 24 extending downwardly to embracethe group or unit of cells, and a top portion formed with a series ofdimples 25, each dimple attaching to an adjacent corner of each of fourcells I 9, at the top corner location of each cell. A refrigerantpassage 23 extends between, and over the top of, each cell I9.

Mounted directly below the evaporator and cells, sufficiently spacedtherefrom to permit formed ice cubes to drop freely, there is provided astationary water shed type of distributor comprising oppositely slopingplates 26 extending throughout and beyond the downwardly projected areaof the evaporator. Said plates are joined at a central apex 21 andsupported by bracket plates 28 mounted inwardly from the side walls 29.The lower outer edges of each of the plates 26 terminate just shortof'the side walls 29 to provide a water trap passage 30 therebetween.Extending longitudinally of each of the plates 26 there isprovided adistributor head- H or 3| within which there is provided a series oflongitudinally extending distributing tubes 32.

ing from the discharge side of a force pump 36. The inlet side of saidpump is connected with a laterally-extending flow pipe 31. The liquid isdrawn into the inlet of the pump through the flow pipe fromthe-longitudinal reservoirs 3t, 39 into which return liquid accumulatesthrough the water trap passages 30. The

reservoir 39 carries a float 40. therein and is provided with anoverflow conduit 41 above. the.

normal operating liquid level leading to a drain pipe 42. Mounted ateach side of the water shed and extending longitudinally thereof thereis a flexible bafiie 43. Each of said baffiesis suspended from theevaporator cover ll extending closely adjacent the upper surface of therespective plates 25 for preventing splash of the liquid and directingit into the water trap passages 39, while suihcientlyflexible to permitice cubes to deflect them and slide over the walls 25 to drop into theice bin [21 In operation, upon closing a master switch indicated at 44in Fig. 1, the force pump 35" is operated through an electric motor 45having a shaft connection therewith, which motor is mounted on a bracket46 carried by a supporting cross strut 41. The condenser and condenserfan (not shown) are placed in operation. The pump 36 draws liquid fromthe reservoir 38, 39, forcing the liquid into the headers 3! and thenceinto the distributing tubes 32. The liquid under pressure from said pumpis then sprayed upwardly through the respective nozzles 33 into theapproximate center of the top of the corresponding cells l9. The cellwalls, by reason of the refrigerant passing thereabout through therefrigerant passages 23, are sufficiently cooled to cause the film ofice to be formed therein and build up into an ice cube as. the streamsof liquid continue to be discharged therein. This action continues untilthe individual ice cubes are fully formed. The excess liquid of eachspray over that which is frozen returns onto the water shed and backinto the reservoirs and to the pump.

This action continues until the thermostat control bulb 48 mechanicallyattached to the suction line from the evaporator reaches a predeterminedlow temperature. Said bulb is connected by a line 4. 9 with thethermostat control contained in the housing, as indicated at 59 (Fig.1). Said thermostat is of such structure that it will thereupon trip thecontrol switch to the pump motor 45 through line m and to the condenserfan, discontinuing further discharge of liquid 'into the cells. At thesame time the thermostat mechanism will close the circuit 5! to a hotvalve 52. This increases the pressure in the evaporator 24 by supplyinghot gases from the compressor in the compartment I I, not shown, to thecondenser through a line 53. This action causes the surface of the cubesof ice nearest the cell walls to melt slightly or defrost, and as thecell walls are tapered the cubes will readily drop by gravity onto thewater shed plates 26 over which they will slide against the baflles 443, deflect it, and enter the ice bin I2 through the ice bin throatindicated at 54.

When the pressure pump is thus stopped, the liquid in the cell chambers3|, 32 and will return to the reservoirs 38, 39, causing them to fill toa point above the overflow outlet 4|. This allows some of the liquidthat is heavily concentrated with minerals,,to. be eliminated at the endof each freezing cycle. This is a self cleaning feature and insuressufliciently fresh water for each cycle and eliminates the manualcleaning of the reservoirs in order to maintain clear cube production.The baflies 43 also prevent warmer air from contacting the evaporatorthrough the ice bin throat 54 when the ice bin dooris open. It. may behere noted that no insulation is required on the evaporator proper, as:the enclosing casing It may be made of a material having a low heatconduction (K) fac tor, such as a plastic material. The water shedplates 26 may also be made of a low (K) factor material for preventingthe liquid from freezing in the distributing system, and at the sametime prevent solids from forming or caking on the surface of the system,particularly in the openings of the spray nozzles 33, thus reducingtheir size.

In this connection actual tests show that there is no afiinity betweenplastics and water solids, and, as the water concentrate left at theendof each freezing cycle where water comprises the liquid to be frozen,ispartiallyeliminated through the overflow pipe 4| and the supply pipeto maintain a predetermined liquid level in the reservoirs. Suchpredetermined liquid level is maintained in the reservoirs by a freshwater or liquid line 55 leading to the upper portion of the reservoir 39from any suitable source of supply. Said reservoir is provided with aninspection and service cover 39a (Fig. 1). The float serves to, maintaina predetermined water level in the reservoirs, and to that end controlsthe water supply of the line through the medium of a float actuatedvalve in the housing, indicated at 56.

After the surface of the ice cubes has been defrosted sufliciently forthem to be released from the cells, the temperature of the suction linegasses through the suction line 51 will rise, and as the temperatureresponsive bulb 43 is mechanically attached thereto it will activate thethermostat 5n and cause the contacts therein to change, thus activatingthe water valve, the water pump and condenser fan (not shown) said fanbeing inactivated during the defrosting cycle so that increasedtemperatures will develop in the compressor, hastening the dropping ofthe cubes from the cells, thus increasing the ice production of themachine.

When the ice bin I2 has been filled with ice, the bin control switch 58automatically operates in the following manner to shut off the entiremechanism. Said switch is mounted on a sup.- porting rod 59 that floatsthrough an opening an in the top of the ice bin and is held in place bya pin 6| at one end. The other end of said rod slides through a tube 62extending transe versely across the top of the bin and attached to thebin end and the rod 59, at the plate 62a, as shown in Fig. 4. The rod 59is made of a low expansion material, while the tube 62 is made of a highexpansion material, such as copper.

When the ice in the bin reaches such a height that it touches the tube52, it causes contraction thereof which allows the spring loaded switchplunger 63 to move a switch arm 64 on its fulcrum 65, and, as the end 66of the tube 62 becomes shortened by contraction, the circuitin the binswitch 58 will be broken and the entire mechanism will cease to operateuntil some of the ice has been removed from the bin. Upon sufficient icebeing removed, to drop the level, the temperature of the tube 62 willrise, expand and close the contacts in the switch 58 through the switcharm 64.

The amount of refrigerant admitted to the passages 23 in the evaporatoris controlled by a control bulb t1 connected to a thermostatic expansionvalve 68. A drier as is placed in the refrigerant line to removemoisture and foreign particles from the refrigerant.

Further, in connection with the system there is provided a hot pipe Hleading from the evaporator to the hot valve 52, the hot pipe 53 leadingfrom the hot valve 52 to the condenser coil and condenser outlet.

As shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 5, the condenser motor abovereferred to is indicated at T2 and the fan above referred to, but notshown, is indicated at T3. The main lines of the circuit 13a, 13b, areconnected with a source of electric power indicated at S.

From the foregoing it will be observed that without any moving partsother than the pump. motors and control switches, the ice cubes areformed and harvested alternately and automatically to maintain a supplyof cubes in the bin. Thus, the usual platen or closure plate of thecharacter shown in the above-mentioned patent and the mechanical systemby which it is operat ed is eliminated, resulting in a minimum ofmechanical maintenance and cost of production.

The invention claimed is:

i. In an ice making machine, the combination with an evaporator unitincluding a series of closely associated inverted freezing cells havinginterior wall surfaces and being closed at the top and open at thebottom, means to refrigerate the wall surfaces of said cells to cool theliquid received therein and produce an ice deposit in the form of icecubes, means for defrosting said wall surfaces for freeing the frozenice cubes to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationary diverter having apair of oppositely inclined plates positioned directly under saidevaporator and plates therefrom to receive and divert the freed icecubes to an ice bin, a series of spaced nozzles mounted in said platespositioned to discharge a forced stream of liquid directly upwardly intothe central top of said cells respectively, pressure tubes associatedwith said nozzles, a header mounted on the under side of said platescommunicating with said tubes, a reservoir positioned below the loweredges of said plates for receiving freed liquid shed thereby, anoverflow pipe for said reservoir, a flow connection therebetween, and apressure pump having its intake communicating with said flow connectionand discharging into said headers.

2. In an ice making machine, the combination with an evaporator unitincluding a series of closely associated inverted freezing cells havinginterior wall surfaces and being closed at the top and open at thebottom, means to refrigerate the wall surfaces of said cells to cool theliquid received therein and produce an ice deposit in the form of icecubes, means for d frosting said wall surfaces for freeing the frozenice cubes to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationary diverter positioneddirectly under said evaporator and spaced therefrom to receive anddivert the freed ice cubes to an ice bin, said diverter having a seriesof discharge apertures each positioned below the center of one of saidcells, a liquid reservoir associated with said diverter, a pressure pumphaving its intake communicating with said reservoir and its outlet withsaid apertures for forcing a stream of liquid into the central portionof each cell to cause a portion thereof to be frozen on the wallsurfaces and the residue returned by said diverter to said reservoir,:1. thermostatic control associated with said evaporator unit andconnected with said pump for effecting operation of said pump during thefreezing cycle and discontinuing its operation during the defrostingcycle.

3. In an ice making machine, the combination with an evaporator unitincluding a series of closely associated inverted freezing cells havinginterior wall surfaces and being closed at the top and open at thebottom, means to refrigerate the wall surfaces of said cells to cool theliquid received therein and produce an ice deposit in the form of icecubes, means for defrosting said wall surfaces for freeing the frozenice cubes to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationary diverter positioneddirectly under said evaporator and spaced therefrom to receive anddivert the freed ice cubes to an ice bin, said diverter having a seriesof discharge apertures each positioned below the center of one of saidcells, a liquid reservoir associated with said diverter, a pressure pumphaving its intake communicating with said reservoir and its outlet withsaid apertures for forcing a stream of liquid into the central portionof each cell to cause a portion thereof to be frozen on the wallsurfaces and the residue returned by said diverter to said reservoir,and a thermostatic control in said ice bin for discontinuing theoperation of said pump and refrigerating means upon a predeterminedaccumulation of ice in said bin.

4. In an ice making machine, the combination with at least one invertedfreezing cell having an interior wall surface and being closed at thetop and open at the bottom, means to refrigerate the wall surface ofsaid cell to cool liquid received therein and produce an ice deposit inthe form of an ice cube, means for defrosting said wall surface forfreeing the frozen ice cube to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationarydiverter plate positioned directly under said cell and spaced therefromto receive and divert the freed ice cube, said plate having a dischargeaperture positioned below the center of said cell, a liquid reservoirassociated with said plate, a pressure pump for forcing liquid from saidreservoir through said aperture in a stream directed into the centralportion of said cell to cause a portion thereof to be frozen on the wallsurface and the residue diverted by said plate into said reservoir, anda thermostatic control associated with said. cell to render said pumpeffective during the freezing cycle and ineffective during thedefrosting cycle.

5. In an ice making machine, the combination with at least one invertedfreezing cell having an interior wall surface and being closed at thetop and open at the bottom, means to refrigerate the wall surface ofsaid cell to cool liquid received therein and produce an ice deposit inthe form of an ice cube, means for defrosting said wall surface forfreeing the frozen ice cube to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationarydiverter plate positioned. directly. under. said cell and spaced tiirerrernito receive aiidh vrt theffreed ice cube.

into; an ice} bin,'saidfplate, having a discharge aperture, positionedbelowjithe center. of said cell, ajliquid reservoir associatedwithf'said plate, a pressure pump for forcing liquid from said 'res-.ervoir through said aperturein a stream directed into the centralportion of said cell to cause a portion thereof to be. frozen on theWall surface and the residue diverted by said plate into said reservoir,and a thermostatic. control in said ice bin for rendering ineffectivesaid refrigerating means and pump upon a predetermined amount of icecubes accumulating therein.

6. In an ice mal ring machine, the combination with at least oneinverted freezing cell having an interior. wall surface and being closedat the top and open at the bottom, means to refrig-w erate the wallsurface of said cell to cool liquid received therein and produce an icedeposit in the form of an ice cube, means for defrostin said wallsurface for freeing the frozen ice cube to drop therefrom by gravity, a,stationary divert'er plate positioned directly under said cell andspaced therefrom to receive and divert the freed ice cube, said platehaving a discharge aperture positioned below the center of said cell, aliquid reservoir associated with said plate, a pressure pump for.forcing. liquid from said res: ervoir through said aperture in a streamdirected into the central portion of said cell to cause a portionthereof to be frozen on the wall surface and the residue diverted bysaid plate into said reservoir, a thermostatic control assoe ciated withsaid cell to render said pump effective during the freezing cycle andineffective during the defrosting cycle, a thermostatic control in saidice bin forrendering ineffective said re-,

frigerating means, and pump. upon a predetermined amount of ice cubesaccumulating there: in, and a flexible deflector curtain confiningv thespace between said cell'and plate for preventingv splash of liquidresidue while permitting passage thereunder of freed ice cubes.

7. In an ice making machine, the combination with an evaporator unitincluding aseries of closely associated inverted freezing cells havinginterior wall surfaces and being closed at the top and open at thebottom, means to refrigerate the wall surfaces of said cells to cool theliquid received therein and produce an ice deposit in the form of ice'cubes, means for de-- frosting said wall surfaces for freeing the frozenice cubes to drop therefrom by gravity, a stationary diverter having apair of oppositely inclined plates positioned directly under saidevaporator and spaced therefrom to receive and die vert the freed icecubes to an ice bin, a series of spaced nozzles mounted in said platespositioned to discharge a forced stream of liquid directly upwardly intothe central top of said cells respectively, a reservoir positioned belowthe lower edges of said plates for receiving freed liquid shed thereby,and a pressure pump having its intake communicating with said reservoirconnection and discharging into said nozzles.

JOHN R. BAYSTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,221,694 Potter Nov. 12, 1940 2,340,721 Whitney Feb, 1, 19442,526,262 Munshower Oct. 17, 1950

